Quad ESL owners question

"the acoustic ambience of a panel that radiates forwards and backwards (nice for chamber, church or low level classical music)-"

Yes, electrostats (or any dipole for that matter?) are bad bad bad bad bad for any other type of music particualy rock, progressive, symphonic, punk, be bop jazz, straight ahead jazz, electronic, dance, orchestral etc, well you get the idea. I am not even sure why they make these things. Thankfully I like Ann Murry, Carpenters, and churches without organs music.

Bob

Hi Isanchez, my post, "Yes, electrostats (or any dipole for that matter?) are bad bad bad bad bad for any other type of music particualy rock, progressive, symphonic, punk, be bop jazz, straight ahead jazz, electronic, dance, orchestral etc, well you get the idea. I am not even sure why they make these things. Thankfully I like Ann Murry, Carpenters, and churches without organs music."

Was in response to Shadornes assertion that electrostatics are, "the acoustic ambience of a panel that radiates forwards and backwards (nice for chamber, church or low level classical music)-"

I usually disagree with every one, so this was my attempt at conformity. You really should ask Shadorne about this.

My response was a bit tongue in cheek response to Shadornes remark, and I am sure he understood it. It really is difficult to make a sweeping statement like he did, for any technology.

As to my experience with electrostats as you can see by my username Acoustat6, guess what I listen to?

I started my audio life with the usual suspects in the 70s, box speakers and in 1984 I purchase my first pair of Acoustat 3s. I then a couple of years later found a used pair of the Acoustat 6 which I continue to listen to, till this day. I have also owned a pair of Super Quads with the bank of RTR electrostatic tweeters and KEF woofers. I have also owned Magnepans. And I have heard many of the usual suspects in boxes, horns and single drivers etc..

Personally I liked many of them and appreciate many of each technologies attributes. I am sure I could have gone in any direction. But i bought the big Acoustats and have stuck with them for better and worse. It is a mrriage as I have owned the sixes for over 25 years. So yes I do indeed like electrostatics. Hence my reply to Shadornes remark.

I also like dipoles. My DIY subwoofer system consists of 32 eight inch Eminence drivers in sealed enclosures. There are eight forward and eight rear facing drivers per side in a stereo pair. It is a linesource configuration. They use a pair of stereo amps. Each woofer tower has its own amp with the "left" channel driving the front bank and the "right" channel driving the rear bank.

You may view them here, http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/10047418LsbjGLlsDK?start=0

Bob

Hi Shadorne, My point was that many technologies are indeed "good". And that it is difficult to make any sweeping statement. Now of course that doesnt mean that one cannot prefer one over the other, this is where our personal preferences and likes and needs come into play. Which is what makes the world go round. And just like ones preference for tubes/SS, transformer/active, TT/CD, DD/belt drive, who cares? The only thing we should be concerned about/helping each other with is how to get the best performance out of THEIR equipment. Why? Because that is what we own, why not just work towards getting the best out of it. Thats all you can do, unless someone can talk you into spending $$$$ for new equipment.

How can it be that, no matter the topology there is always someone on this site that says it is wrong while others have the complete opposite view?

I could have fallen for any speaker type. As I mentioned when I was looking for speakers many years ago, I chose the Acoustats (part fate/part desire) but I had listened to a number of speakers that I could have lived with forever. I have had the Acoustats for a long time and plan on living with them till the day I die. But thats just me. I also have and use my original SAE amps circa 1980. I have made changes over the years but enjoy many of the (now old) fine pieces of equipment that I own.

This is not limited to electronic equipment but also to all of the things in my life. Motorcycles that I have owned and continue to ride after 25 years, same for art, clothes, music, books, you get the idea.

Now just think if I had bought those Klipschorns.....but not before going to bed, don't want any nightmares:)

Just kidding! But just think of how different my system would be if I had bought and kept them.

Also I am sure that few people would even like to own my system (or listen to it for that matter, I am sure it would put Mr Tennis into cardiac arrest!) and I know that, but for me it is spectacular.

It is no different for my motorcycle collection, probably useless for 99% of the motorcyclist out there. But me and a couple of other nutty friends thrive on them and we help each other get the best out of them. Should that not be what we try do do here?

Now just think if my first bike was a Harley, but not before going to bed, we dont want any nightmares!

Bob

Hi Rleff, The subs were designed by two internet friends one of which works for an important speaker/electronic company. These were indeed made to match the big Soundlabs as that is what these two fellows own. Mine work quite well with my Acoustats also.

As can be imagined they needed to be dipole, linesource and very quick (sealed box). They were also designed, and you need to use, the Marchand Bassis or some other form of a Linkwitz transform to counteract the natural rolloff of the sealed box.

The drivers are custom made by Eminence for this project. They had 100 drivers made to obtain a good discount. Each system uses 32 drivers so three sets were able to be made with 4 drivers left over for spares. The 32 drivers cost me $600 about 8 years ago. Total for the entire project about $1000. Can you say DIY:)? But dont forget you then need the Marchand Bassis and two stereo amps. The increadible thing is the drivers barely move, perhaps 4mm of excursion for even the most bass heavy music. The articulation, dynamics and imaging of the bass is what we were after and this goal was achieved.

They are low Q ( 0.5 ). With 32 drivers, 10" drivers are not needed, actually I am sure 32 8" drivers are overkill, I believe 24 drivers would be enough, but that would not give a pure linsource.

Bob